Rothfussians discussion
This topic is about
The Slow Regard of Silent Things
The Archives
>
Slow Regard of Silent Things - Discussion
Amber! I do have things to add but some of it takes place on the last page and I don't want to spoil anything! "Auri describes bending the world to her desire as folly." I think this is really significant. The way she talks about bending the world to her desire makes me suspect Auri is a shaper.
Also, this. "Without her halo of hair, Auri felt small. Not the smallness that she strove for every day. Not the smallness of a tree among trees. Of a shadow underground. And not just small of body either. She knew there was not much of her."
Auri is striving for smallness. And not just smallness of body. Interesting, no?
Mod
I've read a few people think something really bad happened to Auri, but I haven't really picked that up myself thus far....
Amber wrote: "Hmm, I hadn't noticed that! That is interesting, I wonder what the reasoning is for that?I've read a few people think something really bad happened to Auri, but I haven't really picked that up m..."
Assuming that while Auri was attending University, she was health of mind and soul. Something must have happened. Something traumatic to make her live the way she does don't you think?
Mod
I think the text is pretty suggestive of Auri's ability at naming or knowing, and with that in conjunction with the pressure of the University, I don't think it's necessary that anything particularly traumatic happen to her. Her mind's already being taxed a lot, I mean, it's pretty suggestive Elodin cracked from pressure and not trauma. So I don't see why Auri couldn't.
There is some indication in the text of Slow Regard that something traumatic happened to Auri but it's later on so you might not have read that part yet. There are definitely indicators that Auri was a student but it also seems like she is something more. That quote about "the smallness she strove for everyday" really struck me because it seems like Auri is hiding and is somehow less than she used to be.
Mod
I will see if I hit that spot tonight...hopefully we get a chance to read!
I have to admit that I enjoyed reading the discussion of this book more than the book itself. In fact, I also have to admit I couldn't even finish it - I was so uninterested I quit after the 1st 3 chapters. Reading your comments has made me want to go and wade through it, even though I didn't enjoy the story. To me, Ari is a much more developed character in the "Name of the Wind" and "A Wise Man Fears". It seemed as though (to me) that she was a complete lunatic in this book, lacking any depth, and it didn't even compel me to wonder why she ended up under the University. Obviously she was a student and "cracked" but beyond that .... boring! (Apologies to the hard core Rothfuss fans, but when he said that if readers were expecting to revisit Kvothe's world, they would be disappointed. Color me as "disappointed" (very) in this book.
Mod
I mean, the fact alone that she would let him LIVE in the Underthing is pretty amazing...she's clearly extremely particular about that. It gives a whole new depth to her feelings in my opinion.
Very true. From the KKC trilogy it was pretty obvious that Ari is holding a torch for Kvothe, either love or as a hero. Remember when he was standing over the courtyard dropping hairs into it to foil those who were seeking him, and Ari appears and tells him that he is her ... can't quite remember the term, but she tells him he is beyond her reproach? That was pretty touching, as was the time she actually went to his room and comforted him in the throws of the Plum Bob poisoning.
Mod
I know I could probably go look, but since I'm not in the same location as my book, maybe someone will look before I get there. Does it ever specifically say that Auri opens her cedar chest? Just wondering, since I couldn't remember.
I've also noticed that there is somewhat of a parallel with the way Kote takes care of the Waystone and the way Auri cares for the Underthing. Obviously not as extreme, but both do take great care in making sure things are just right.
Ari definitely has OCD, lol. And yes, Kvothe does make sure everything is in it's place in the Waystone, but I think that is more of him living the role as an innkeeper - which he does so well he BECOMES an innkeeper, and is no longer "Kvothe the Arcane", or "Kvothe the Kingkiller". (I wonder if the king he kills is the warrior poet his trainer among the Amir did service with? Just a random thought). Ari is definitely "special" and it's very clear she regards Kvothe as far more than just a student - more like a Hero (with a capital H) biding his time as a student, and Ari can see through the disguise of a student. I wish she would/could visit him in the Waystone, and see through his role as an Innkeeper, I think it's going to take something that drastic to return to the person he was, one who inspired a prince of the fey to become his "student" - I haven't even heard a rumor of when the third book will be released, have you? And sorry to sidetrack this discussion of Ari and THe SLow Regard of Silent Things with thoughts on K. (though he can hardly NOT be mentioned at some point)
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Whether or not that is Vashet's poet king, well, hard to say. That might be interesting.
I've actually wondered, even before Slow Regard was released, what happens to Auri, and why Kote doesn't visit her anymore? Since she cares so much for him, she must miss him and she actually seems to be one of the few people Kvothe genuinely cares about. That would be awesome if Auri was the one to put him to rights...I don't know if that will happen, but it would definitely be fitting, since she knows everythings proper place!! I'd love that!
Mod
I'm still trying to decide if Foxen is some kind of creature, or an object she has named...
(view spoiler)
So yah...theories on that anyone?
About Foxen, I thought it was something of a flame. That would have needed air in the bottle though and that's why I think Auri uses Sympathie to light it. When she feels bad it wouldn't light, so that will back up my theorie a bit. It takes a lot of energy to do that all the time, so that would mean Auri is quite powerfull or my theorie is rubbish.
Mod
I hadn't thought of that sympathy idea, I don't think it's a bad one. But doesn't she put something on Foxen to make him light up?
Foxen actually kind of terrifies me, because of it's blue flame, and along the leaf on her mantle (that I immediately thought may be from the Ctheah but have no evidence to support that). But what really struck me is that Auri clearly holds some power and says she will be ready with a new name when he needs it...
...So did Auri name him Kote in the way of shaping things? Did she change him so much that he could not use his power, Is the thrice locked chest Auri's ceder chest?
Mod
Foxen definitely perked my interest right away since we've discussed the possibilities of what that light could be before. I didn't think of the leaf being from the Ctheah tree, but that would be an interesting turn of events really.
I haven't reached the spot that she says that about his name, so I'll have to get back to you on that one when I get there, but a similar idea to that did start occurring to me also about halfway through the book! So of course now I'm really excited to get reading again.
Before reading Slow Regard, I thought Foxen was like Kilvin's little force field thingies- old magic of unknown origin. Now I'm not sure. I don't think he's actually alive. Auri runs around anthropomorphizing every little thing she comes across. I can't tell if it's because she's crazy or if she's seeing hidden truths. That was one of my favorite things about Slow Regard, actually. The blurred lines. Auri's mental illness informs every aspect of her life. It is responsible for beautiful, almost spiritual, highs and devastating lows. But it also seems like a superpower, you know? Part of me kept wondering if those things really did have a proper place and only Auri could see it.
I wondered about Auri giving Kote his name as well, but if Kote really does mean disaster it would be a strange choice. Seems more like something Kvothe would name himself after everything goes to hell.
Mod
I also kept wondering the same thing about things having proper places. Is she crazy...or is everyone else just not paying attention? LOL
My husband really thought the part with the blanket was awful. Like, he felt ridiculous sad about it, not that it was badly written.
The blanket part was really sad. Actually, I was surprised at how much I began to internalize Auri's discomfort when things didn't go right. I gasped and teared up when she broke the brazen gear (before she realized that it was meant to be).
Mod
Oh no! I thought you'd gotten to that part. Sorry for the spoiler!
Mod
Well if she didn't name him Kote, maybe that is our clue to day three and the ending.
I was thinking the same thing, Kenneth...
Anyway, some spoilers ahead!2 cool things I noticed
1. When Auri is making the candle she decides to leave out the scent of selas flowers and thinks: selas flowers are not for him...
Reference to Denna and how their relationship is ultimately doomed? He always associated selas flowers with Denna, so I think this might be some foreshadowing.
2. Did you see Auri being a namer? That part was awesome. The last 3 pages of this book amazed me. I think she is the one that gives Kvothe his new name.
I really can't wait for book 3 now....
Mod
I have read the selas flower part and I felt like I should make some connection there too. But I couldn't figure one, so I'm glad you posted that. I agree, it seems like it should have some meaning, and that seems a very plausible one!
I think everything speaks to Auri. Elodin knows just a few words & is slightly off. I still have not done the serious re- read, waiting for the local library waitlist for the audio to spin my way.
Mod
Do any of you think that Auri was raped at some point? There was a mention in the book when she starts reminiscing about inappropriate things, or when she is really close to cracking again, and one of the tangents her mind wanders on to is the feeling of a young man pinning back her wrist and forcing himself on top of her. Could this also be another reason why she has hidden in the Underthing?
Mod
But if something like that did happen, it would, in my opinion, definitely be at least part of the reason she is having these issues.
Personally, I got the impression she "cracked" spending too much time doing Alchemy. (view spoiler)
Amber wrote: "[spoilers removed]"I like that idea!
I'm pretty sure this book just revealed to us who is Kvothe's first "lover" that called/named him Dulator.Also, I think Foxen is an alchemy product, and the book will give secrets to a different kind of magic (shaping?).
As blunt as I can be about part of why Auri is broken, I'm pretty sure she was raped. Only one tiny line in the book mentions it, but it stuck out. There's much more to it than that though.
I really need to read this book
Mod
But since you mentioned the Dulator part, I'm digging it. Plus I always thought that maybe "the girl" he mentiones in the frame of NoTW was supposed to be Auri and Denna was just a misdirect. If I am remembering correctly he does talk about Auri within that same part of the text close enough that it could have been about her.
I've thought Auri was the one who renamed Kvothe as Dulator after I saw how pleased she was with him renaming her and how she comforted him in his plumb bob state. (How sweet and heart breaking, right!?!) I think Kvothe renamed himself as Kote without anyone else doing it for him. I think he is in total control of his current situation and will drop the Kote mask when he sees fit.I do not think Auri was raped, but I do think she was attacked by the priesthood for asking questions about the Amyr...look at when the guys visit Puppet and there is a puppetry beating scene. I think that is supposed to be Auri and a Tehlan priest
Mod
I also don't know if I go in for the Auri rape theory, but that one scene does give room for plenty of speculation.
Speculation abounds in Pat's books! haha. Auri only gets fearful/upset when asked personal questions and she breaks down when Kvothe asks her how she knows about the Amyr. In Slow Regard, Auri does not shy away from being naked or from the frolicking bodies depicted in the underthing.
I think Auri has awakened her sleeping mind and sees the world for the way it is. I think that's what happens to all of "the cracked". It almost happens to Kvothe when he first calls the wind - Elodin has to bring him back by putting his mind back to sleep. So it's like Auri is playing a game of chess with the world - moving pieces into the proper places as she goes. She isn't crazy at all - she is too genius to be understood and she has things in place several steps ahead. They don't make sense to the waking mind until they are needed. Consider everything that led to the breaking of Fulcrum - everything had to be in place for that to happen, which led to her answer.
The way she talks to things also fits perfectly with the way Elodin explains how naming works in NOTW. It's kind of like they are alive and they don't have to obey just because you call their name either. It very much makes sense that she has a "relationship" with the things around her.
Clayton knows what's up.
Just finished it and probably need to re-read it. Unless I'm completely misreading things, I get the feeling that Auri is much older, and obviously much more powerful than previously suggested.
Mod
I don't know if that is what happens to all of the cracked students, since some of them seem to just crack from stress, but I think the ones that crack from naming most certainly hav similar features. Sort of how we see with Whin (Sp?) when Elodin visits him in NoTW. In that passage he recognizes Kvothe and calls him "the thunder" which turns out to be part of his true name in ademre.
@Eric, I'm curious as to why you think Auri is much older? I did not get that impression at all. We know she was not long ago a student of Master Mandrag and she seems to regard him with respect, so I was of the opinion she was probably normal student age. Definitely much more powerful than previously suggested though...to say the least. LOL
I don't think Auri is cracked. Not in the "mad" sense, at least. I think her talents go beyond mere naming and this gives her a perspective on creation that transcends understanding for the waking mind. People view her as cracked.Personally, I think Auri's a shaper/knower - the difference for me is having the will to change things. She constantly struggles against her will to Shape throughout Slow Regard, she struggles to remain a Knower. The bit that really highlights this for me, is when she describes herself as faen when she ties her hair back. The Shapers become the Fea prior to (or during) the creation war. Her hair is part of who she is, and to change it is to shape herself, to change things to her will. This is wicked.
Other thoughts...
There were loads of candles and keys (a bit bereft of coins though) throughout the story. Lots of moon too. I think she even describes the candle she makes as Taborlean, too (it's difficult to be certain with an audiobook). She clearly knows something about the Amyr, too, and sees them as good, protectors.
I also think she has transcended alchemy. The trappings of the art are mere bargaining with the world. She can clearly shortcut the whole process. Much of her magical education is probably redundant in the face of naming/knowing/shaping.
All-in-all, I thought this a brilliant book, crammed full of hints and wonder. The only think that annoyed me were Patrick's constant apologies for writing it. Damn your beard man, be proud of this.
I need to re-read some things to confirm or discredit my theories. Mostly I'm suggesting that just because Auri appears to be no more than 20, it doesn't mean she couldn't be 25-30 maybe older. We know she was a student of Master Mandrag, we assume it was not long ago. I'm probably wrong.
I know this story doesn't directly pertain to Kvothe's, but I did take note of a few things so far. I am nearly finished reading it (FINALLY) so maybe I'll have more later.
I noticed that Auri has a book of Secrets, and that Nate illustrated it to have a moon and a candle on it....I thought that was an interesting choice, since both bear a mention in one of the Lackless poems. I'm not sure if he just did that because he thought it'd look nice or it was possibly a little hint to what kind of knowledge Auri might have or provide later. Or maybe he just likes messing with people's minds....
Also, I find it interesting that Auri has a chest that she keeps, despite it not being locked, I just find it to be a nice parallel that she has this in common with Kote, since they both seem a little cracked to me, I enjoyed that despite it probably having little meaning.
Lastly, I like to think that Pat is very careful with words, and I particularly noticed that Auri describes bending the world to her desire as folly toward the end of the novel. It got me thinking a lot and I thought it would fit well with Kote/Kvothe's story and maybe that was a little bit of a hint.
Anywho, anyone else notice anything or something to add...you know what to do.